Autumn footwear for someone who doesn't like shoes

[CrispyTofu]

I have some pumps, white trainers, a pair of sandals and a pair of wedges for summer. Some wellies, walking boots and black suede ankle boots for winter. I don't really 'love' any of these shoes, I don't like the ankle boots at all.

I've been looking for some autumn shoes that are easy to wear and comfortable as I walk a lot but also that look good. The problem is that I'm not sure I really like any shoe/boot!

Please help me stylish mumsnetters.

I manly wear long skirts, dresses and chinos. I wear lots of navy with white, or bright colours if dresses/skirts. Red,blue,yellow.

What shoes can I wear?

Oh yes I agree, it can't be avoided, thanks for the link, those shoes are certainly substantial!

While I like shoes in winter I wear either ankle boots or knee highs. I have a pair of each in brown suede and black suede and they go with pretty much everything.

I live in my soft leather DM’s in the autumn and winter, I’ve got them in red, teal, black and floral pattern and they go with pretty much everything, are waterproof and super comfortable.

If you’re not really inspired by shoes/boots (I’m slightly jealous as I could spend aaaall the money on shoes and boots 🤣), I’d just stick with 1 all purpose pair of ankle boots that are comfy and practical and wear with everything. I’d go for an ox blood colour which I think goes with black/browns etc or black.

sonething like…
https://www.drmartens.com/uk/en_gb/2976-leonore-faux-fur-lined-oxblood-chelsea-boots/p/26332601?gclid=CjwKCAjwmbqoBhAgEiwACIjzEDmTsT92OVSj30LbPi8bTJAHcCd6SQ3Tmcw4xPwiIepKWI1TvVsJNBoCDRQQAvD_BwE

https://www.clarks.co.uk/c/Orinoco-2-Style/p/26163624

https://www.jonesbootmaker.com/products/spear-leather-biker-boots-barbr36515-322-449?variant=40190752849983&dfw_tracker=151425-40190752849983&gclid=CjwKCAjwmbqoBhAgEiwACIjzEIupVSAs8ghdESWQIIbTRrkYqw8Bxr1QqdEoSRQFzIUoxnvsitOJ_xoCEPYQAvD_BwE

https://www.tedbaker.com/uk/p/Womens/Accessories/Shoes/DARCYO-Leather-Biker-Boots-Black/267179-BLACK?cmpid=ppc~google~PLA~performance_max_uk~~267179-BLACK-38~na~na~UK&gclid=CjwKCAjwmbqoBhAgEiwACIjzEMIHyGUDOK_OgNoL7pNLQe7abzRMWl02VNNd7xXW3nMTGcmydGnYhhoCtpcQAvD_BwE

I just bought these. Dainty they are not! But surprisingly light. Don't know how they'll work out yet though. I also struggle in Autumn, especially as I cannot tolerate anything without substantial support. The soles of my feet become so painful and crampy, I'm really restricted these days. Don't know what has gone wrong with my poor feet!

Could you cope with Birkenstock Bostons?

Could you try and identify which particular features you're not keen on ?
What do you not like about your black ankle boots - colour , way they chop your leg off at the ankle, the fit around the ankle , the sole, the way they feel?

Can you rank your other footwear in order of preference ?
Is it A comfort thing ?
Don't forget footwear looks V different if you're the wearer and have A Birdseye view. Personally colour is important to me, A lovely ox blood brown , cheery red, vibrant green suede.

At the start of this thread I thought the same "how can you not like shoes?" but apart from the suggestions by TheOGCCL I really, really, really don't like any of the shoes on this thread.

Thinking about my own footwear I have gazillions of pretty Pretty Ballerina pumps and similar low heeled dainty shoes. If the weather isn't good enough for them I go direct to flat Lanx and Joseph Cheaney lace up ankle boots. I only like a very limited number of shoes.

I don't like any footwear at all. I don't like the look, I don't like the feeling, I don't like the impossibility of getting something that simultaneously fits, supports, flexes and protects whilst giving my feet enough space and fulfils societal and practical requirements - preferably without costing a week's wages and requiring multiple orders of varying sizes and still have none being right.

Still need to wear something, though.

No. I hastily posted the Celtic & Co and Grenson links, without doing more than peek.
You might be lucky by looking for a shoe sale, outlet page or on an auction sites, but at a guess I think you'd be paying at least £80, which although is a lot, is a mere fraction of the price if you bought new.

I've just had a look at the Celtic & Co ones. They definitely get the thumbs up.
M&S usually has some nice boots and shoes at a more wallet-friendly price.

Thank you for this thread @CrispyTofu
I feel exactly the same and hate winter/autumn shoes/boots. I think it’s because I don’t like having my feel enclosed tightly. I’d wear wellies all winter if I could get away with it. I dread having to “dress up” as I know, no matter how much I spend my feet will not be comfortable.

Thinking about my own footwear I have gazillions of pretty Pretty Ballerina pumps and similar low heeled dainty shoes. I only have one pair of feet and they need to last me a lifetime.

I go direct to flat Lanx and Joseph Cheaney lace up ankle boots.
I'd happily wear those.

I’d wear wellies all winter if I could get away with it.
If I had comfortable ones, I probably would.

I don’t like having my feel enclosed tightly. I'm the opposite, I can't do sandals unless my toes are covered.

Thinking about my own footwear I have gazillions of pretty Pretty Ballerina pumps and similar low heeled dainty shoes. I only have one pair of feet and they need to last me a lifetime.

I'm 64 and I've got lovely feet. No corns, bunions, fallen arches or other issues.

Maybe they're ok on a dainty person, Audrey Hepburn looked ok in them.
I'm not a dainty petite person, and want shoes I can walk miles in, and carting 50 Kgs of human would take its toll on my tootsies.

Dainty little feet are not for me. Small feet on men give me the ick.

You're kind of missing the point. I was merely acknowledging that the OP saying she doesn't like shoes wasn't as odd as it first seemed. I dislike almost all of the options given.

( Oh and I am more than 50kg and have no difficulty walking miles).

I'm hankering after these, not in black though. I can't believe the prices of some of those recommended
https://www.moshulu.co.uk/opie-p2872#attribute%5B1%5D=9

Birkenstocks Gary shoes are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn.

@CrispyTofu I don’t like wearing shoes either! I wear trainers and boots in cold weather, Birkies and flip flops in Summer 😃

I do love the look of some high wedges/platforms, and used to wear them and heels back in the day, but I don’t feel safe walking in them any more. And I hate low heels/frumpy Mary Jane’s etc!

@BlueKaftan . They're good. Good job they're suede or I'd be ordering some.

I always find shoes squash my big toe nail. Some boots do too then my toenail ends up falling off by spring which ain't a good luck for the summer.
Not that many places seem to do half sizes. I could do with 5.5.
I ordered some ox blood DM's (1460 I think) They were so hard! Sent them back and will search for softer options.

I was the same as you, OP, then I found these. For me they bridge that awkward time between sandals and boots, and they’re very comfy.

Weird how many dont like shoes, count me in your number.
I wear trainers most of the time, but as soon as it gets cold I like warm ankles so I live in uggs and grensons. Buy them all in the summer sales when needed. I own a pair of shoes, but I think they are covered in dust right at the back of the wardrobe.

As I only buy in the sales, up to now I've never spent more than £80 on uggs and £120 on grensons. And they last 4 or 5 years/winters. Would probably last longer if I took any care of them at all.

https://www.grenson.com/womens-footwear/shoes/formal-shoes/

Grensons and the like should last for a very long time (10 yrs+) if you are prepared to get them resoled. I think they provide a resoling service, but an old fashioned cobbler would do it.

The Grenson shoes in the link look very appealing apart from the platform ones, which will probably give me nightmares.

I buy my boots in the summer too. They'll be in a sale or a barely worn pair on an auction site when not many will be looking for winter boots. Some styles even if they fall out of favour come back after a few years.

Indeed mine should last longer. But I seriously take no care of them. Grenson have some kind of renewing thing, where you send your old pair back, they do their magic and you get a beautifully repaired almost new looking pair back.
I've used it, its brilliant, but then I realised it cost almost as much as buying a brand new pair in the sales. If you only ever buy full priced, yes it's a bargain to get renewed, if you only ever buy sale items, you might think twice.

Just checked and nanette rebuild is £150

https://www.grenson.com/nanette-rebuild-service/
I have mostly nanette boots. My latest pair cost me £116. In the sale, brand new they were £350, so yes my way makes sense. Well to me.